Sickle



Aug- 4, 1925.

H. J. DAY

SICKLE Filed May 21. 1923 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES HERBERT J. DAY, OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS.

SICKLE.

Application filed May 21, 1923.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. DAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Plaines, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sickles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sickle having a backing wherein are mounted a plurality of ali ned blades which may be individually or col ectively replaced when desired; and more particularly it is concerned with an improved and inexpensive construction of means for securing in place the several blades which may consist of ordinary discards from safety razors.

An exemplification of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing where m- Figure l is a side elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

The present article comprises three major parts, a backing A in which are secured the several blades B with the aid of a spring clamp C. The backing may be formed of any desired material, such as wood, having a proper cross sectional form, as, for example, that which is suggested in Fig. 3.

A slot 5 such as would be produced by a saw cut is formed lengthwise of the backing extending from one end 6 for a desired distance toward the other 7 where a suitable handle configuration is provided. The two sections of the backing lying on opposite sides of the slot may be spread, expanded, or separated to a slight extent as permitted by the material used.

In a backing of this general description are secured a number of blades B each of which may have the general form and construction that is common with present day safety razors of standard design. Each of these blades is inserted in the slot 5, the depth of which is such as to cause one cutting edge 8 to remain protruded exteriorly of the backing. By preference the slot wherein these blades are accommodated is of such width that the blades will be received with a relatively close fit, requiring, perhaps, a slight spreading of the backing sec- Serial No. 640,326.

tions for this purpose. In this manner the blades will each remain of their own accord due, in part, to the friction or pressure exerted by the engaging faces of the backing.

The assembly of the several blades within the handle is followed by fitting thereover a spring clip O. This is of a generally tubular form with a longitudinal cut in its walls sufliciently wide to provide engaging edges 9 which grip opposite sides of the backing, as best shown in Fig. 3. By preference the walls of the backing are tapered as at 10 from the opening of the slot 5, the diverging walls thus provided being engaged by the clamping edges of the clip. Likewise the rear side of the backing may be rounded, as at 11, to conform to the proximate surface of the clamp, as shown.

A sickle constructed in accordance with the preceding description will present a plurality of blades in end to end relation each secured within the longitudinal slot of the backing. One of the cutting edges of each blade will remain protruded exteriorly of the backing for a sufiicient distance to perform a cutting operation when required so to do. In addition the walls of the backing adjacent the cutting edge of each blade are converged sufficiently to not interfere with c the material which is to be attacked by the instrument. It is to be noted, furthermore, that the engagement of the backing with the blades is augmented by the pressure afforded by the clip. This clip may be slid by an endwise movement to its position, and will remain indefinitely in place due, in part, to the engagement of its edges 9 with the diverging walls of the backing. For

these reasons, a sickle having the characteristics mentioned will be dependable in use. Should it become necessary or desirable at any time to reverse the blades, or substitute others, this may be readily accomplished by removing the clip and then withdrawing the several blades, or altering their positions within the backing.

I claim:

In a sickle, the combination of a fibrous backing having its walls exteriorly tapered toward a point, there being formed longitudinally in the backing a slot which opens between the tapered walls thereof whereby the backing to exert pressure thereupon a pair of spaced sections are provided in the whereby the blades are also gripped with backing, a plurality of blades recessed withpressure, substantially as described. in the slot between the two sections but prob truded therefrom for a slight distance, and a HERBERT spring clip in the form of a slotted tube Witness: adapted to engage with the tapered sides of EPHRAIM BANNING. 

